Home.19 February 1998
NAME: ________________________________________________________ DATE: ____________
A) Correctly tie the 10 basic Scout Knots (Square Knot, Clove Hitch, Lark's Head, Two Half-Hitches, Taut-Line Hitch, Timberline Hitch, Sheet-Bend, Sheep-Shank, Bowline and Double Figure 8 and explain the use of each.
B) Determine West using a (i) compass, (ii) by the sun (the "stick and shadows" method), (iii) by locating the North Star, and (iv) with a non-digital watch. Properly orient a map using any of the above techniques. Explain how you can use the sun or full moon to determine general direction if you have an idea of the time of day, and how this knowledge also helps you with respect to determining direction with the "stick and shadow" and non-digital watch methods.
C) Start a fire using only all-natural materials and with no more than two matches. Explain three other ways to start a fire without matches (no Bic Lighters).
D) Properly sharpen a knife and hatchet/axe; demonstrate how to change the blade on a bow-saw.
E) Completely set up one of the Troop tents, solo, then disassemble it and properly pack it up. Explain proper site selection, proper site clearing, and orientation of the tent in a strong breeze.
A) What are the two principal methods for sterilizing drinking water or sterilizing dishes. If you're collecting water from an unsure source with your canteen, explain exactly how you fully sterilize the water before drinking; assume you are using iodine tablets or Polar Pure solution.
B) Describe a proper Patrol KP setup, explaining each step.
C) How do you protect yourself from ticks? Explain the proper procedure for removing ticks.
D) What are the two most important things to do in the event of an emergency? What is the most important piece of emergency equipment (and why?)
E) Give two of the principal signaling techniques if lost or if need help while in the woods?
F) Why is wearing non-UV opaque sunglasses much worse than not wearing sunglasses at all?
G) Explain proper foot care to prevent blisters while hiking?
H) How do you hike in a straight line while in open country (without a compass)?
I) What is the most important factor in preventing hypothermia?
J) What is the most important factor in preventing heat exhaustion or heat stroke?
K) How do you dress for cold weather campouts (and why?)
L) Why do you completely change into fresh clothes when going to bed on a cold campout?
M) Why do you never cut switchbacks on hiking trails?
N) Why do you never bring gas-fired lanterns, stoves or heaters into your tent?
O) Why do we always hike as complete groups while on wilderness trails?
P) Why do you never store food or medications inside your tent in wilderness areas?
Q) Why do we never feed wild animals?
R) Why do we never approach wild animals in the woods that are acting friendly?
Explaination Section Study Guide
A) What are the two principal methods for sterilizing drinking water or sterilizing dishes. If you're collecting water from an unsure source with your canteen, explain exactly how you fully sterilize the water before drinking; assume you are using iodine tablets or Polar Pure solution.
- By boiling it (them) for 10 minutes - By chemical disinfectant (iodine or chlorine, etc.)
- Add disinfectant tablets, wait 10 minutes to dissolve the tablets,* shake up thoroughly, loosen the cap and splash some of the disinfected water over the cap and lip of the canteen, re-screw the cap back on, then wait 10 more minutes before drinking. This is referred to as "threading" the cap. For Polar Pure, no need to wait for the initial 10 minutes, just add, shake up, thread the cap, wait 10 minutes, and it's good.
B) Describe a proper Patrol KP setup, explaining each step.
Four Parts: (1) A roll of Toilet Paper or Paper towels and a trashbag, to physically wipe the dishes and utensils as clean as possible; (2) A tub full of slightly soapy, warm-to-hot water, with a scrub brush, for formal cleaning; (3) A second tub full of warm-to-hot water containing a small amount of chlorox or similar disinfect, for a sterilizing rinse; and (4) A small, cleantarp, for laying all items out on (upside down where applicable) to dry.
C) How do you protect yourself from ticks? Explain the proper procedure for removing ticks.
- Wear long pants tucked into socks
- Use insect repellent (Deet) around ankles, wrists and especially the back of your neck
- Place Vaseline or First Aid cream on and around the tick, wait 1 - 2 minutes to see if the tick will back out on his own (because he's being smothered); if not, grasp with a pair of tweezers at the neck of the tick, pull and twist gently for 10 seconds to gently pull out (Do Not Yank!); disinfect with additional First Aid cream or ointment.
D) What are the most important things to do in the event of an emergency? What is the most important piece of emergency equipment (and why?)
- 1) Stay Calm; 2) Send for help, if at all possible
- 50 cents, so you can use a pay-phone (any piece of "communications gear" - pay phone, cell-phone, CB radio, ham radio, walkie talkie, etc., is an acceptable answer.)
E) Give two of the principal signalling techniques if lost or if need help while in the woods?
- 3 smoky fires in a straight line row, each separated by enough distance that it's obviously three separate fires (not just one huge one).
- spell out "Help" in nearby open fields in the snow or with rocks or dark branches
- signal low-flying planes or helicopters with a mirror (tough to do! - use the "Bob-trick" with a long stick to aim your reflected beam!)
F) Why is wearing non-UV opaque sunglasses much worse than not wearing sunglasses at all?
- Dark sunglasses "trick" your eyes into thinking it's night-time, which causes your pupils to dilate, allowing more light in (including UV light); if they're not UV opaque, you will cause much greater damage to your eyes! (Lesson being, don't buy or use cheap sunglasses, especially skiing, at the beach, or at high altitudes.)
G) Explain proper foot care to prevent blisters while hiking?
- Keep feet dry (use foot-powder, change socks often)
- Wear proper socks (thin polypropylene followed by cotton followed by wool)
- Wear good boots which are broken in on YOUR feet.
H) How do you hike in a straight line while in open country (without a compass)?
- Line up landmarks (trees, rock-formations, hills, etc.)
I) What is the most important factor in preventing hypothermia?
- Stay dry
J) What is the most important factor in preventing heat exhaustion or heat stroke?
- Drink a lot of fluids
K) How do you dress for cold weather campouts (and why?)
- Dress in layers, which you can add or remove as conditions and activity level changes
L) Why do you completely change out of your day clothes when going to bed on a cold campout?
- Even when your clothes "feel" dry, they're still sweat-saturated simply from you wearing them. Sweat-saturated clothing acts as a negative insulator (makes you much colder) when your activity level drops to zero, i.e., when you sleep. Remember, "sweat is wet."
M) Why do you never cut switchbacks on hiking trails?
- Causes trail erosion
- much greater chance of injury
- much greater chance of getting poison ivy
N) Why do you never bring gas-fired lanterns, stoves or heaters into your tent?
- can easily cause a fire (ALL tents are flammable!!!)
- In closed tents, can easily suck up all the oxygen, cause you to asphyxiate - MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIED DOING THIS!!!
O) Why do we always hike as complete groups while on wilderness trails?
- to prevent getting split up and/or lost
- only the group has all survival gear (first aid, food, tents, etc.; small split-off groups may not have basic health and safety equipment with them.)
- in case of injury, everyone available to help
P) Why do you never store food or medications inside your tent in wilderness areas?
- any food or medication odor can attract wild animals, especially bears
Q) Why do we never feed wild animals?
- become dependent on humans for food, lose their fear of humans, become very dangerous
R) Why do we never approach wild animals in the woods that are acting friendly?
- possibility of rabies
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